--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can only control my own performance. If…" description: "\"I can only control my own performance. If I do my best, then I can feel good at the end of the day.\" — Michael Phelps" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/michael-phelps-2388_best_i-can-only-control-my-own-performance-if_625011.jpg" --- # I can only control my own performance. If I do my best… ![“I can only control my own performance. If I do my best, then I can feel good at the end of the day.” quote by Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/michael-phelps-2388_best_i-can-only-control-my-own-performance-if_625011.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/michael-phelps-2388_best_i-can-only-control-my-own-performance-if_625011.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/michael-phelps-2388_best_i-can-only-control-my-own-performance-if_625011.jpg) > “I can only control my own performance. If I do my best, then I can feel good at the end of the day.” [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal responsibility for effort determines satisfaction, not external outcomes. **In simple terms:** Control your effort to feel good. Key Takeaway Focus on effort, not results. Themes self‑discipline performance mindset Mood determined reflective Type motivational self‑help When to use this quote - training - competition - daily work - personal goals Key Concepts agency intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you separate effort from outcome? - What habits keep you consistent? A Different Perspective If external factors dominate, effort may feel insufficient. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Control Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-performance-1072123/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [End of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-day/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-good/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Performance Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance-best-1902982/) ## Related quotes > [What we strive for is how we can provide the best performance and best design, whatever the customers want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranav-mistry/what-we-strive-for-is-how-we-can-provide-the-best-performance-and/) [Pranav Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranav-mistry/) > [If I get no sleep the night before a show, I feel that performance is the best one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/if-i-get-no-sleep-the-night-before-a-show-i-feel-that-performance-is/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [We do what we can, and then make a theory to prove our performance the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-what-we-can-and-then-make-a-theory-to-prove-our-performance-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Rather than complain about a thing you cannot change, I try to find a solution to help the performance in the best way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-pochettino/rather-than-complain-about-a-thing-you-cannot-change-i-try-to-find-a/) [Mauricio Pochettino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-pochettino/) > [You have to do a good job controlling the things you can control for performance and not get distracted by all the noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-henman/you-have-to-do-a-good-job-controlling-the-things-you-can-control-for/) [Tim Henman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-henman/) > [I can control my performance and how I fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-can-control-my-performance-and-how-i-fight/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [What we can control is our performance and our execution, and that's what we're going to focus on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/what-we-can-control-is-our-performance-and-our-execution-and-that-s/) [Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/) > [For me, I can only control my own performance which I think has been good, but I don't expect anything from anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordi-alba/for-me-i-can-only-control-my-own-performance-which-i-think-has-been/) [Jordi Alba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordi-alba/) > [As an actor, you are sort of only in charge of yourself. 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At the end of the day, what's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-evangelista/it-s-about-time-to-see-the-downfall-of-the-scorecards-of-who-s-right/) [Eve Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-evangelista/) ## More by Michael Phelps > [The support I've received from my sponsors has enabled me to raise the bar in swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/the-support-i-ve-received-from-my-sponsors-has-enabled-me-to-raise/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I'm definitely ahead of the schedule where I thought I was going to be at. I'm really happy. I was excited to race and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-m-definitely-ahead-of-the-schedule-where-i-thought-i-was-going-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/you-can-t-put-a-limit-on-anything-the-more-you-dream-the-farther-you/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I think with practice, you can being whatever you want to be, and with a goal you can go in any direction that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-think-with-practice-you-can-being-whatever-you-want-to-be-and-with/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I learned how fast you can go from being an international hero to being a reference in a joke on a late night talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-learned-how-fast-you-can-go-from-being-an-international-hero-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I'm the same kind of guy before all this happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-m-the-same-kind-of-guy-before-all-this-happened/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [The only reason I started swimming was for water safety. 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And I want to change the world of swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-want-to-test-my-maximum-and-see-how-much-i-can-do-and-i-want-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [You can't put a limit anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/you-can-t-put-a-limit-anything/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I haven't swam in any of the rivers outside of Baltimore. I try to keep it in the pool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-haven-t-swam-in-any-of-the-rivers-outside-of-baltimore-i-try-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [This is my 20th year in the sport. I've known swimming and that's it. 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